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Tailor-made advice for holiday party style

A Vancouver stylist and personal shopper suggests stepping into pants for a holiday party look that’s comfortably chic.
Serena Mason
Assistant personal shopper Serena Mason in Topshop pants, shirt, necklace, and a Proenza Schouler clutch for a holiday party look styled by Jessie Carlson.

A Vancouver stylist and personal shopper suggests stepping into pants for a holiday party look that’s comfortably chic.

Jessie Carlson, known for her trademark clean, classic aesthetic, recommends three outfits – with trousers – that will get noticed for all the right reasons.

What’s the appeal of pants for parties?

“Everything: Pockets, comfort,” says Carlson, a fast-talker whose arsenal of fashion knowledge after more than a decade of dressing women shows with her rapid-fire responses.

There’s no question pants will stand-out in a sea of shimmery dresses, but Carlson offers expert tips for paring them with the just the right dose of decorative trimming.

The first outfit she suggests is a Topshop ensemble. The British line, known for being on trend and affordable, is carried by Hudson's Bay (the Canadian retail giant has also undergone a recent re-brand, embracing its classic name). Carlson recommends Topshop’s Flat Front Luxe Jogger ($70), a harem-style pant with a relaxed fit, Roll Neck white blouse ($68), and a statement necklace ($56).

“Harem pants are everywhere, they don’t have to be from Topshop,” says the stylist, who runs Jessie Carlson Wardrobe, which helps women purge and replenish their closets. Carlson is also a personal shopper at The Room, Hudson’s Bay’s luxury department at its downtown location.

Finish the Topshop ensemble with a pair of black pointy pumps, a no-fail shoe that goes with everything. Opt for a quality designer pair if you can swing it, Carlson says.

Lastly, go for a simple clutch. In fact, every woman should have a time-honoured black rectangle clutch in her closet, she insists.

Moving on up in price point, Carlson coordinates an outfit from the White Space, an area at Hudson’s Bay that carries contemporary brands like Phillip Lim, Vince, Theory, and Helmut Lang. Pair slouchy tuxedo pants ($355) with a double-breasted blazer ($545) and a silk camisole ($195) from the distinctly Parisian fashion line Sandro.

Again, throw on those no-fail black pointy shoes. As for jewelry, Carlson says try a simple gold necklace from Hudson’s Bay’s low-cost house brand Expression and grab a bright-hued clutch.

“When you have this black tuxedo [look], you can be a little more adventurous with the clutch,” Carlson explains. “What I typically do with a tuxedo or a jumpsuit, that’s all black, is just do a really bright lip or have a bright clutch.”

For a higher-end version of the same theme, she expertly picks a black jumpsuit with a sheer top by Maison Martin Margiela ($1,795) from The Room.

“It’s just a really simple jumpsuit with pockets,” says Carlson. Opt for Proenza Schouler’s dreamy Pochette clutch ($895) in grapefruit for a dose of colour. Again, finish with a simple pointy black pump and bold necklace.

As for common holiday party dressing blunders, “too tight, too short,” the stylist says. Another no-no: Wearing clothes outside your comfort zone.

“I think one of the mistakes people make is they don’t buy a [new] cocktail dress for parties because they just don’t think they need it, and they always do, and then they wear something that is 10 years old,” Carlson says. “People don’t put enough thought into holiday party dressing, and then they feel uncomfortable, and they are like tottering around. It’s awkward for everybody.”

For more tips on savvy dressing for any occasion, including your next bash, visit JessieCarlson.com.